Key Points
- NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car diagnosed with cancer for a second time
- Some ACT policing incidents escalated through excessive force
- Central Coast championship-winning coach poached by the Matildas
TRANSCRIPT
The New South Wales deputy premier has urged women to stay up to date with their health checks after her own cancer diagnosis.
Labor's Prue Car is taking leave to undergo treatment for breast cancer, with her portfolios of Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney to be taken over by fellow minister Courtney Houssos.
The mother of one previously took leave after being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2022.
She has posted a video on X saying her situation shows the importance of breast cancer screenings for early detection.
"I've fought this before and I'm really confident that I can fight it again. The prognosis is good. The amazing medical team around me are really confident of the prospects after treatment."
---
The Commonwealth Ombudsman has found ACT police are escalating some situations by an excessive use of force.
An investigation from Iain Anderson has concluded behaviour it calls 'unprofessional' - including impatience, aggression, and foul language - has worsened some interactions in around one third of the cases reviewed.
The Ombudsman says such behaviour has the potential to disproportionately impact on vulnerable members of the ACT community including young people, First Nations people and those experiencing mental health challenges.
The Ombudsman's investigation reviewed more than 6000 [[6,255]] use of force reports, 201 files of body-worn camera or CCTV footage, and 645 training and governance documents, as well as the results of interviews with AFP and ACT Policing officers.
---
Tasmania's embattled Liberal premier is expected to formally request an early election today, putting the island state on track for a second poll in as many years.
The call follows Jeremy Rockliff's refusal to step down as premier after losing a no-confidence motion put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and three crossbench MPs.
He is expected to formally make the request today, following a sitting of state parliament to pass an emergency budget bill to ensure public servants get paid.
Liberal MP Felix Ellis has posted on social media that the party remains behind Mr Rockliff and his decisions.
"The reason why we are being forced to an election as a state is because of the selfish ambition and ego of Dean Winter. This is all about him and it's all on his head."
---
Authorities are warning snow-goers to listen to official advice following a series of rescues in heavy snow over the long weekend.
Inspector Tracey Johnston, from the Wangaratta Police Station in Victoria, says 13 people were rescued after becoming stuck due to the snow around Mount Hotham, while two bush walkers were recovered from a trail at Wonnangatta, near Mount Kosciuszko in the Snowy Mountains.
"We are warning snow goers to obey road closure signs to allow emergency services to continue their work at this time. They are also continuing to search the area to identify if there are any further people who require rescue at this time."
Snowfall has continued across ski resorts in Victoria and New South Wales, adding to the 40-to-60 centimetres that has already fallen.
The Bureau of Meteorology says snow showers are expected to continue across the New South Wales ranges and tablelands above about 900 metres.
---
A group of Australian fire crews are on their way to support Canadian colleagues who are battling wildfires in Alberta.
The contingents are being sent under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding established between the two countries, which relates to cooperation that might be needed in the event of emergency situations.
The Calgary Herald says there are currently 61 fires burning in the province, with 23 of them classified as being out of control.
Manitoba Minister for Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Ian Bushie has previously said crews are arriving from interstate as well as the US and other partner countries to help combat them.
"Manitoba has deployed more than 650 people to support the firefighter efforts with a little more than 175 firefighters from out of province. We've deployed more than 57 aircraft and more than 80 firefighting equipment to communities that need it."
---
There has been a second mix-up with an embryo transfer at an Australian fertility company.
The first incident in 2023 involved the transfer of the wrong embryo to a Brisbane woman, who later gave birth to the other couple's baby.
Monash IVF has released a statement confirming the second incident at its Clayton fertility clinic in Melbourne, which involved an embryo being incorrectly transferred to a patient, contrary to the treatment plan which designated the transfer should have been to the patient's partner.
The statement says it is conducting an internal investigation and putting processes in place to stop another error from occurring.
"Commencing immediately, Monash IVF will implement interim additional verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards over and above normal practice and electronic witness systems, to ensure patients and clinicians have every confidence in its processes."
---
To sport and in football news, the Matildas have poached Central Coast's championship-winning coach Emily Husband to join new coach Joe Montemurro's staff as an assistant.
Husband has previously worked with Montemurro for last year's ALW All Stars game against Arsenal.
Her appointment follows two successful years at the helm of the Mariners.
The Englishwoman was A-League Women's coach of the year in her first season in 2023-24 when she built the Mariners' squad from scratch, then led them to the semi-finals.